Pivotal Role of Reduced let-7g Expression in Breast Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

P Qian, Z Zuo, Z Wu, X Meng, G Li, Z Wu, W Zhang… - Cancer research, 2011 - AACR
P Qian, Z Zuo, Z Wu, X Meng, G Li, Z Wu, W Zhang, S Tan, V Pandey, Y Yao, P Wang…
Cancer research, 2011AACR
Screening of the entire let-7 family of microRNAs (miRNA) by in situ hybridization identified
let-7g as the only member, the diminished expression of which was significantly associated
with lymph node metastasis and poor survival in breast cancer patients. Abrogation of let-7g
expression in otherwise nonmetastatic mammary carcinoma cells elicited rapid metastasis
from the orthotopic location, through preferential targets, Grb2-associated binding protein 2
(GAB2) and fibronectin 1 (FN1), and consequent activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated …
Abstract
Screening of the entire let-7 family of microRNAs (miRNA) by in situ hybridization identified let-7g as the only member, the diminished expression of which was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival in breast cancer patients. Abrogation of let-7g expression in otherwise nonmetastatic mammary carcinoma cells elicited rapid metastasis from the orthotopic location, through preferential targets, Grb2-associated binding protein 2 (GAB2) and fibronectin 1 (FN1), and consequent activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and specific matrix metalloproteinases. Treatment with estrogen or epidermal growth factor specifically reduced the expression of mature let-7g through activation of p44/42 MAPK and subsequently stimulated expression of GAB2 and FN1, which, in turn, promoted tumor invasion. We thus identify let-7g as a unique member of the let-7 miRNA family that can serve as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer and also propose a paradigm used by specific signaling molecules via let-7g to cooperatively promote breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Thus, let-7 family members neither possess equivalent clinicopathologic correlation nor function in breast cancer. Cancer Res; 71(20); 6463–74. ©2011 AACR.
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